CONTEMPO
RECORDS
Independent label: Contempo was
owned by John Abbey, founder of 'Blues and Soul' magazine. Abbey had been
responsible for selecting records to appear on Polydor's 'Mojo' Soul label,
which expired in 1973. When Polydor failed to launch Mojo in the USA he
launched his own label. Abbey started a record shop called Contempo
Records, then started the record label itself in 1973. Contempo put out all
kinds of Black music, including Soul, Northern, Disco and Funk, and it had a
dedicated 'Oldies' label, 'Contempo Raries', which included some Rock 'n' Roll
singles amongst its output. A label respected by Soul fans, Contempo served
its audience well, but it only bothered the Singles Chart compilers on three
occasions: firstly though a re-release of Tammi Lynn's 'I'm Gonna Run Away From
You', on Contempo Raries (CS-9026), which made it into the Top 40 in 1975; and
in the following year with two singles on Contempo proper by Dorothy Moore,
'Misty Blue' (CS-2087) a Top 5 hit, and 'Funny How Time Slips Away' (CS-2092),
which peaked at No. 38. At first manufacturing and distribution were
by Decca / Selecta, with numbering in a C-0 series. When the company moved
to Pye, in 1974, its singles series changed to CS-2000, with a CS-9000 for
reissues on Contempo-Raries. In late 1977 WEA took over distribution from
Pye; a new, more colourful, label design and sleeve marked the move. The
pink sleeve dates from the Decca period; the pink-and-white ones are from
the Pye era. Contempo seems to have expired in the Spring of 1978. John
Abbey married American singer Tamiko Jones at the tail-end of the '70s and moved
to America, which would explain Contempo's demise. Contempo has an
excellent claim to be the the first company to issue a 12" single in Britain, a
single split between Ernie Bush ('Breakaway') and Banzai ('Chinese Kung
Fu'). Numbered CX-12, the record came out on the 22nd of October
1976.Contempo followed, numbered from CX-13 up. Thanks to Robert Lyons For
The Info.
| 73 |
Major Lance |
The Right
Track |
CONTEMPO |
C |
1 |
| 73 |
Fabulous Echoes |
Don'T You Know I Love You |
CONTEMPO |
C |
2 |
| 73 |
Pitts Richie |
Every Couple'S Not A Pair |
CONTEMPO |
C |
3 |
| 73 |
Bob & Earl |
Harlem Shuffle |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
4 |
| 73 |
Lee Jackie |
The Duck |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
5 |
| 73 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
Everything I Own |
CONTEMPO |
C |
6 |
| 73 |
Midinght Movers |
Follow The Wind |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
7 |
| 73 |
Thomas Jimmy |
All God'S Children |
CONTEMPO |
C |
8 |
| 73 |
Major Lance |
Ain'T No Soul Left |
CONTEMPO |
C |
9 |
| 73 |
Gi-Gi |
Daddy Love |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
10 |
| 73 |
Fred John & Playboy Band |
Judy In Disguise |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
11 |
| 73 |
Young Tommy |
Everybody'S Got A Little Devil In Their
Soul |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
12 |
| 73 |
African Music Machine |
Tropical |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
13 |
| 73 |
Fontella Bass |
It Sure Is Good |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
14 |
| 73 |
Little Johnny Taylor |
As Long As I Don'T Have To See You |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
15 |
| 73 |
Robinson Roscoe |
We'Re Losing It Baby |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
16 |
| 73 |
Williams Bobby |
Let'S Jam |
CONTEMPO |
C |
17 |
| 73 |
Henderson Willie |
Dance Master |
CONTEMPO |
C |
18 |
| 73 |
Taylor Ted |
I Want To Be Part Of You Girl |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
19 |
| 73 |
Williams Johnny |
Just A Little Missunderstanding |
CONTEMPO |
C |
20 |
| 73 |
Freddie Mack |
People |
CONTEMPO |
C |
21 |
| 73 |
Thomas
Jimmy |
Young Willing & Able |
CONTEMPO |
C |
22 |
| 73 |
Young Tommie |
She Don'T Have To See You |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
23 |
| 73 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
Love'S Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down |
CONTEMPO |
C |
24 |
| 73 |
African Music Machine |
Never Name A Baby |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
25 |
| 73 |
Major Lance |
Dark & Lonely |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
26 |
| 73 |
Napoleon Hatfield |
Knees Up Mother Brown |
CONTEMPO |
CR |
27 |
| 73 |
Ultrafunk |
Living For The
City |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2001 |
| 73 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
Is It Because I'M Back |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2002 |
| 73 |
Armada Orchestra |
Do Me Right |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2003 |
| 74 |
Bass
Fontella |
Now That I'Ve Found A Good Thing |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2004 |
| 74 |
Bond Louis |
Tell Me When |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2005 |
| 74 |
Spunky Onion |
Cookie Man |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2006 |
| 74 |
Masai |
Across The Tracks |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2007 |
| 74 |
Montclairs |
Make Up For Lost Time |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2008 |
| 74 |
Barnes J.J. |
To An Early Grave |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2009 |
| 74 |
Exciters |
A Lover'S Question |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2010 |
| 74 |
New Experience |
I Don'T Want Nobody |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2011 |
| 74 |
Brinkley & Parker |
Don'T Get Fooled By The Pander Man |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2012 |
| 74 |
Bliss Melvin |
Reward |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2013 |
| 74 |
Anderson Roshell |
Know What You'Re Doing When You Leave |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2014 |
| 74 |
Soul Potion |
Circle Full Of Love |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2015 |
| 74 |
Not Issued |
|
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2016 |
| 74 |
Major Lance |
Gimmie Little Sign |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2017 |
| 74 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
The Thrill Is Gone |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2018 |
| 74 |
Cymande |
Brothers On The Slide |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2019 |
| 74 |
Ultrafunk |
Sweet F.A. |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2020 |
| 74 |
Knight Gladys & Pips |
Why Don'T You Leave Me |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2021 |
| 74 |
Frazier Joe |
Try It Again |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2022 |
| 74 |
Ultrafunk |
Kung Fu Man |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2023 |
| 74 |
Aramada Orchestra |
It'S The Same Old Song |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2024 |
| 74 |
African Music Machine |
Mr Brown |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2025 |
| 74 |
Sain Oliver |
Bus Stop |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2026 |
| 74 |
Con-Funk-Shun |
Clique |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2027 |
| 74 |
Stormy Monday |
Boogie Children Let'S Get Down |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2028 |
| 74 |
Escorts |
Disrespect Can Wreck |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2029 |
| 74 |
Gentlemen & There Lady |
Party Bump |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2030 |
| 74 |
English Barbara Jean |
Breaking Up A Happy Home |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2031 |
| 74 |
Fontella Bass |
It'S Hard To Get Back In |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2032 |
| 74 |
Exciters |
Blowing Up My Mind |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2033 |
| 74 |
Smith Marvin |
Let The Good Times Roll |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2034 |
| 75 |
Anderson Roshell |
The Grapevine Will Lie Sometimes |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2035 |
| 75 |
Montclairs |
Hang Up Your Love |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2036 |
| 75 |
Duke Doris |
Grasshopper |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2037 |
| 75 |
Gentlemen & There Lady |
Loose Booty |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2038 |
| 75 |
Hill Z.Z. |
Second Chance |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2039 |
| 75 |
Washington Jerry |
Right Here Is Where You Belong |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2040 |
| 75 |
Seventh Wonder |
For The Good Times |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2041 |
| 75 |
Sain Oliver |
The Double Bump |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2042 |
| 75 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
I'Ve Been Loving You To Long |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2043 |
| 75 |
Kelly Roberta |
Kung Fu'S Back Again |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2044 |
| 75 |
Major Lance |
Don'T You Know I Love You |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2045 |
| 75 |
Swamp Dogg |
Total Destruction |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2046 |
| 75 |
Duke Doris |
A Little Bit Of Lovin' |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2047 |
| 75 |
Barnes J.J. |
Sweet Sherry |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2048 |
| 75 |
Con-Funk-Shun |
Mr. Tambourine Man |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2049 |
| 75 |
Gentlemen & There Lady |
One More Time |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2050 |
| 75 |
Armada Orchestra |
Cochise |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2051 |
| 75 |
Seeds Of The Earth |
Planying Seeds |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2052 |
| 75 |
Simtec Simmons |
Some Other Time |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2053 |
| 75 |
Quadrophonics |
Betcha If You Check It Out |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2054 |
| 75 |
Peaches & Herb |
Down Where It'S At |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2055 |
| 75 |
Dillard Moses |
Theme From Lovejoy |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2056 |
| 75 |
Sain Oliver |
London Express |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2057 |
| 75 |
Funkees |
T00 Lay |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2058 |
| 75 |
Dynamic Corvettes |
Funky Music Is My Thing |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2059 |
| 75 |
Bush Ernie |
Breakaway |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2060 |
| 75 |
Dacosta Rita |
Don'T Bring Me Down |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2061 |
| 75 |
English B. J. |
I'M Livin' A Lie |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2062 |
| 75 |
Barnes J.J. |
Baby Please Come Back |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2063 |
| 75 |
Duke Doris |
Your Best Friend |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2064 |
| 75 |
Howeefeel |
The Devil'S On The Run |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2065 |
| 75 |
Walker Family |
Happy Ending |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2066 |
| 75 |
Snooky |
Sugar Lips |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2067 |
| 75 |
Banzaii |
Chinese Kung Fu |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2068 |
| 75 |
Armada Orchestra |
Feel The Need In Me |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2069 |
| 75 |
Bessie Banks |
Baby You Sure Know How To Get To Me |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2070 |
| 75 |
Ultrafunk |
Sting Your Jaws |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2071 |
| 75 |
Patti Drew |
Mighty O.J. |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2072 |
| 75 |
Seeds Of The Earth |
Phire |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2073 |
| 75 |
Leaville Otis |
I Love You |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2074 |
| 75 |
Oscar Tony Jr |
Chicken Head |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2075 |
| 75 |
Third Time Around |
Soon Everything Gonna Be Alright |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2076 |
| 75 |
Sain Oliver |
She'S A Disco Queen |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2077 |
| 75 |
Armada Orchestra |
Tell Me What You Want |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2078 |
| 75 |
Tamiko Jones |
I'M Spellbound |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2079 |
| 76 |
Jones Juggy |
Inside America |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2080 |
| 75 |
Sain Oliver |
Apricot Splash |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2081 |
| 75 |
Boogie Man Orchestra |
Lady Lady Lady |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2082 |
| 75 |
Armada Orchestra |
Band Of Gold |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2083 |
| 75 |
A.J. Gaye Band |
Moonlight Serenade |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2084 |
| 75 |
Mr. Superbad |
Mr Superbad |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2085 |
| 75 |
Sir Mack Rice |
It Takes One To Know One |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2086 |
| 76 |
Moore Dorothy |
Misty Blue |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2087 |
| 76 |
Tamiko Jones |
Let It Flow |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2088 |
| 76 |
Armada Orchestra |
The Love I Lost |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2089 |
| 76 |
Taylor Ted |
Steal Away |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2090 |
| 76 |
Floyd Eddie |
Paradise |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2091 |
| 76 |
Moore Dorothy |
Funny How Time Slips Away |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2092 |
| 76 |
Don High |
Black Kojack |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2093 |
| 76 |
Tamiko Jones |
Reachin' Out For Your Love |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2094 |
| 76 |
James Jimmy |
River Boat Jenny |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2095 |
| 76 |
Byrd Bobby |
Here For The Party |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2096 |
| 76 |
Bell Ruben |
I Still Have To Say Goodbye |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2097 |
| 76 |
Taylor Ted |
I'M Gonna Hate Myself In The Morning |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2098 |
| 76 |
Skip Mohoney |
Bless My Soul |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2099 |
| 76 |
Ultrafunk |
Gotham City Boogie |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2100 |
| 76 |
Floyd Eddie |
Chi-Town Hustler |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2101 |
| 76 |
Spanky & Inner Citizens |
Golden Gate Getdown |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2102 |
| 76 |
King Floyd |
Body English |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2103 |
| 76 |
Dupars |
Love Cookin' |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2104 |
| 76 |
Barnes J.J. |
The Errol Flynn |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2105 |
| 76 |
Alice Street Band |
Baia |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2106 |
| 76 |
Moore Dorothy |
For Old Time Sake |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2107 |
| 76 |
Armada Orchestra |
Philly Armada |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2108 |
| 76 |
Sam & Dave |
Why Did You Do It |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2109 |
| 76 |
Cash Alvin |
Ali Shuffle |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2110 |
| 76 |
Barnes J.J. |
Sarah Smile |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2111 |
| 76 |
Rix Jerry |
Disco Train |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2112 |
| 76 |
Gregory Tony |
Dance On |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2113 |
| 76 |
Williams Joann |
Maybe Tomorrow |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2114 |
| 77 |
Patterson Bobby |
If We Hadn'T Slipped Up & Got
Caught |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2115 |
| 77 |
Rice & Beans Orchestra |
Rice & Beans Theme |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2116 |
| 77 |
Major Lance |
Gimme Little Sign |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2117 |
| 77 |
Sain Oliver |
Boogie |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2118 |
| 77 |
Cloud One |
Atmosphere |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2119 |
| 77 |
Whitehead Charlie |
I Was Dancing When I Fell In Love |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2120 |
| 77 |
Mike Conteh Band |
Jump The Gun |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2121 |
| 77 |
Eastbound Expressway |
Cloudburst |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2122 |
| 77 |
Barnes J.J. |
How Long |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2123 |
| 77 |
Sam & Dave |
We Can Work It Out |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2124 |
| 77 |
Rice & Beans Orchestra |
Disco Dancing |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2125 |
| 77 |
Viola Reittowsky |
You Can Dance |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2126 |
| 77 |
Homo Sapiens |
Til Tomorrow |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2127 |
| 77 |
Alo Baba Band |
Desert Disco |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2128 |
| 77 |
Jackson Daniel |
Hymn For Africa |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2129 |
| 77 |
Tamiko Jones |
Creepin' |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2130 |
| 77 |
Tamiko Jones |
Band Of Gold |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2131 |
| 77 |
Slim Ali |
Sweet Mother |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
2132 |
| 77 |
Kool &
Gang |
Super Band |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
1001 |
| 77 |
Crown Hights Affair |
Dancin' |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
1002 |
| 77 |
Armada Orchestra |
Do Me
Right |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
1003 |
| 78 |
Tex Joe |
Show Me |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
8001 |
| 78 |
Willie Tee |
Walking Up A One Way Street |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
8002 |
| 78 |
Carter Clarence |
Patches |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
8003 |
| 78 |
Barbara
Lewis |
Baby I'm Yours |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
8004 |
| 78 |
Darrell
Banks |
Open The Door To Your Heart |
CONTEMPO |
CS |
8005 |
